Mechanism for handling rolled stock



Oct. 10, 1933.

K. FELLER MECHANISM FOR HANDLING ROLLED STOCK Original Filed June 6,1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. KARL FELLER.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 10, 1933 K. FELLER 1,929,487

MECHANISM FOR HANDLING ROLLED STOCK Original Filed June 6, 1931 2Sheets$heet 2 a2 INV ENTO R. KHRL FELL R ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES MECHANISM FOR HANDLING ROLLED STOCKarl Feller, Pittsburgh, Pa.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism for handling rolled stock such asrods, bars, rails and the like following their delivery from the formingrolls of a rolling mill, and has particular reference to an improvedmechanism for effecting transfer of rods, bars, rails and the like froma run-out table to a hot bed for transfer by the latter to a sheartable.

Rolled stock such as rods, bars, rails and the like as delivered fromthe forming rolls of a rolling mill onto a run-out table may not beperfectly straight, or if straight when delivered to the run-out table,may become bent by reason of being lifted from the run-out table fordelivery to an associated hot bed. Accordingly, the general object ofthe present invention is to provide means for effecting transfer ofrolled stock from a runout table to an associated hot bed or othersupport, which means is operable to effect straightening of thestockduring such transfer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transfer means which iseffective to accomplish the purpose mentioned in a thoroughly reliableand efiicient manner, and which is of simple construction and capable ofbeing economically installed in operative association with existingrun-out tables substantially without alteration to the latter.

With the foregoing and various other objects in view, which will becomemore fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood,the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the different views:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a stock handling mechanism embodying theinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating the lever arrangement foroperating the present stock transfer means.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the run-out table and the presenttransfer means showing the lat':er in its lowered position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the transfer means in itselevated position; and

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged cross sections similar to Figures 3 and 4,respectively.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designa es, generally, a run-outtable, B a hot bed, C a shear table, and D the present stock transfermeans.

Application runes, 1931, Serial No. 542,680

Renewed April 5, 1933 The run-out table A is in the form of a relativelynarrow, elongated trough suitably supported, as upon channel members 10,to receive rolled stock such as rods, bars, rails or the like as theyare delivered from the forming rolls of 69 a rolling mill, and, inaccordance with general practice, rollers 11 are suitably mounted withtheir upper facesprojecting above the bottom of said trough tofacilitate the advance of the stock therealong. V

The stock transfer means D is disposed at the inner side of the run-outiable A for effecting a step-by-step delivery of the stock from therunout table onto thehot bed B, and, as shown, the hot bed B is disposedbetween the transfer means 70 D and the shear table (3 to feed the stockto the shear table. r

The shear table C is or may be of the same general construction as therun-out table A and preferably is disposed parallel to the run-outtable, being adapted to advance the stock fed therefo by the hot bed tosuitable apparatus for further treatment. I

As shown, the hot bed B preferably consists of a plurality of diagonallydisposed rollers 12 driven so in any suitablemanner whereby the stockdelivered thereto by the transfer means D is fed laterally andlongitudinally from the transfer means to the shear table. However, asthe particular construction and mode of operation of the hot bed formsno part of the present invention, said table, and also the run-out .andthe shear tables,may be of any suitable construction desired.

Referring particularly to'Figures 5, and 6 of the drawings, it will beobserved that the inner side 13 of therun-out table or trough A hasextending from the top thereof, at a downward inclination toward the hotbed B, a ledge or shelf 14, and that spaced inwardly from said ledge orshelf is a second ledge or shelf 15 which 5 also extends at a downwardinclination toward the hot bed, the top of said shelf 15 being disposedsubstantially in the horizontal plane of the lower or inner edge of theledge or shelf 14.

While the ledge or shelf 14 may be formed as an element separate fromthe run-out table, and may be mounted in operative relation to saidtable in any suitable or desired manner, the same preferably is formedas an integral lateral extension of the inner side wall 13 of therun-out trough as shown, and, likewise, while the ledge or shelf 15 maybe mounted in'inward spaced relation from the ledge or shelf '14 in anysuitable or desired manner, the same preferably is mounted by means ofsuitable bracket arms 16 on the same supports 17 on which the hot bedrolls are mounted.

The stock transfer means D for cooperation with the ledges or shelves 14and 15 to efiect a step-by-step transfer of the stock from the runouttable to the hot bed preferably is composed of a plurality of duplicatesections or elements arranged in end to end relation as shown, but aswill hereinafter become more fully apparent, said transfer means mayreadily be embodied in a,

single elongated section or element approximating in length the combinedlengths of .the plural sections.

Each of the several sections or elements of the transfer means Dillustrated in the present inshelves 18 are mounted on common supportingelements 21, each such supporting element comprising a hub formation 22carrying bracket formations 23 upon which the bracket formations 20 arebolted or otherwise suitably secured as indicated at 24. The severalledge or shelf sections or elements 18 thus are connected together inend to end relation and constitute in effecta single elongated ledge orshelf. 7 I

From each supporting element 21, and also'froin each shelf section 18,an arm or arms 25 extend laterally inward beneath the ledge or shelf 15and carry at their inner ends the ledges or shelves 19, which latter areof relatively short length and are arranged in endto end spaced relationfor downward movement between'adjacent hot bed rollers 12.

The upper faces of the ledge or shelf elements 18 are inclineddownwardly and inwardly preferably but not necessarily at the sameangleas the upper face of the ledge or shelf 14, and; in addition, eachof said elements 18 is provided at its side nearest the ledge or shelf14 with a straight and flat vertical face 26 for a purpose which willpresently appear. Similarly, theupper faces of the several ledges orshelves 19 are inclined downwardly and inwardly preferably but notnecessarily at the same angle as the upper face of the ledge or shelf15, which may'have crank 29 which is inclusive of a pin 31? extendingthrough a hole in the hub formation 22 of the related supportingelement. Thus, by rotation of the shafts 28 the several supportingelements 21, and consequently the several ledge or shelf el ments 18 and19, are adaptedto be raised and lowered.

An arm 31 is formed on or fixed tothe outer end of each shaft and saidarms are connected be supported in any position desired as long asdesired.

The ledge or shelf elements 1-8 and 19 are movable between operativelowered and raised positions as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, re

spectively, and, as shown, the ledges or shelves 19 are disposed belowthe ledges or shelves 18 an amount corresponding substantially to thedifference in elevation of theledges or shelves 14 and 15, respectively.When the ledges or shelves 18 and 19 are in their lowered position theupper inclined faces of the ledges or shelves 18 form in effectcontinuations of the upper inclined face of the ledge or shelf 14, or inother words, the uppermost portions of the ledges or shelves 18 aredisposed substantially in alinement with. the lowermost portion of theupper face of the ledge or shelf 14. Manifestly, therefore, when theledges or shelves 18 are in their lowermost position, rods, bara'rail'sor the like may roll or slide from the ledge or shelf 14 onto theinclinedupper faces of the ledge or shelf elements 18 unhindered. Onthe. other hand, when l the ledge or shelf elements 18 are in theirraised position, as shown in Figure 6, the uppermost portions of saidelements are disposed considerably above the lower inner edge of theledge 01' shelf element 14, whereby the vertical faces 26 of saidelements 18 constitute abutments or stops against which rods, bars orthe like gravitating down the ledge or shelf 14 are adapted to strike.As a consequence, due to the impact of, the rods or bars with the flat,straight surface 26, and to the tendency of the rods or bars to wedgethemselves into the substantially V-shaped space formed by the flatsurface 26 and the straight, flat. upper face of the ledge or shelf 1 aninitial straighteningof the hot and relatively soft rods or bars iseffected during the first stage of thestep-by-st'ep transfer of the rodsor bars to the hot bed.

Due to the ledges or shelves 19 being disposed below t1 e plane of theledges or shelves 18 an amount as heretoforestatedthe upper faces ofsaid ledges or shelves 19 are disposed substantially flush with theupper .face'of the ledge or shelf '15 when the ledges or shelves 18 arein their raised positions aforesaid, and when the ledges or shelves .18and 19 arein their lowered positions, as shown in Figure 5, the ledge orshelves 19, are disposed entirely below the uppermost faces of the hotbed rollers 12.

Means of a known type, or of any type desired, is provided for liftingthe rods, bars, rails or the like out of the run-out trough A and fordelivering the same onto the ledge or shelf 14, such means beingconventionally indicated by dotted lines at 33 in Figure 6 of thedrawings. That is to say, said means may consist in accordance withpresent practice of a series of flaps which are swingable betweenhorizontal and vertical positions, said flaps preferably but notnecessarily being interconnected with the operating means for thevertically movable ledges or shelves 18 3.1:

and 19, whereby they are operated in harmony with said ledges orshelves. When said flaps are in their lowered positions they aredisposed between and below the upper faces of the rollers 11 of therun-out trough, and the rods, bars or the like in passing into therun-out trough thus overlie said flaps so that when the latter are swungto a vertical position the rods, bars or the like are elevated. The freeends of the flaps are beveled or inclined inwardly as illustrated inFigure 6, and thus as the rods or bars are elevated they tend to roll orslide inwardly toward the inner side wall of the run-out trough.Consequently, as soon as the flaps 33 have been swung an amountsufficient to raise the rods, bars or the like above the top of theledge or shelf 14, the said bars immediately roll or slide onto and downsaid ledge or shelf 14.

In view of the foregoing the operation of the mechanism will beapparent. Assuming a status of the mechanism as illustrated in Figure 5,with a rod or bar 34 disposed in the run-out trough A and a rod or bar34a disposed on top of the shelf 18 and resting against the flatvertical face of the ledge or shelf 15, it is apparent that uponelevation of the l dges or shelves 18 and 19 to the position shown inFigure 6 the rod or bar 34a will be lifted until it is free to roll orslide down the ledge or shelf 15 onto the ledges or shelves 19, whichare now disposed flush or substantially fiush with said ledge or shelf15 as shown in Figure 6, and that in so rolling or sliding and suddenlybeing stopped by the flanges 27 a final rod or bar straightening effectis produced. If the flaps 33 are swung upward to the position shown inFigure 6 simultaneously with elevation of the ledges or shelves 18, 19,the rod or bar 34 will be elevated by said flaps onto the ledge or shelf14 at the same time the rod or bar 34a is delivered onto the ledge orshelf 15, and thus, simultaneously with rolling or sliding of the rod orbar 34a down the inclined upper faces of the ledges or shelves l5, 19,the rod or bar 34 will roll or slide down the inclined upper face of theledge or shelf 14 against the straight, flat inner face 26 of theledge'or shelf 18, effecting an initial straightening thereof. If nowthe ledges or shelves l8, 19 are lowered as shown in Figure 6, theledges or shelves 19 by moving between the hot bed rollers 12 below theupper faces of said rollers, will deposit the rod'or bar 34a onto saidrollers and, by reason of the rotation and angular disposition of saidrollers, the rod or bar will immediately be moved from a positionoverlying the ledges or shelves 19 so that uponsubsequent elevation ofthe same the rod or bar will remain on the hot bed rollers for transferby the latter to the shear table. At the same time the downward movementof the ledges or shelves 18 will result in release of the rod or bar 34whereby said rod or bar may roll or slide down the upper inclined faceof said ledges or shelves 18 against the fiat vertical face 35 of theledge or shelf 15, where a second straightening efiect is produced byreason of impact of the rod or bar against said face 35 and by reason oftendency of the rod or bar to wedge itself into the substantiallyV-shaped space formed between the face 35 and the upper faces of theshelves 18. In other words, according to the present arrangement, as onerod, bar or the like is lifted from the run-out trough onto the ledge orshelf 14 another rod or bar is lifted by the ledges or shelves 18 onto,

the ledge or shelf 15 for delivery to the ledges or shelves 19, so thatthere is a continuous step-bystep transfer of the rods or bars from therun-out trough to the hot bed during the normal operation of themechanism. In this connection it is apparent, of course, that the flaps33 need not be elevated simultaneously with elevation of the ledge orshelf elements 18, 19, but may be elevated subsequentlyto elevation ofsaid ledge or shelf elements. Moreover, it is apparent that the transfermechanism may embody only a single transf er stage or any plurality oftransf er stages desired.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that the construction, operationand advantages of the invention .will be clearly understood. It isdesired to point out, however, that while a single specific embodimentof the invention has been illustrated in the present instance, the sameis readily capable of various modifications and changes and embodimentin other mechanical structures within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In mechanism of the class described, in combination, a run-out table,a hot-bed of the spaced roller type to one side of said run-out table, astationary shelf between said run-out table and said hotbed, said shelfhaving a straight side facing the run-out table and having its top faceinclined downwardly away from the run-out table and towards the hot-bed,a vertically movable shelf between the run-out table and said stationaryshelf, the top of said vertically movable shelf being inclineddownwardly away from the run-out table and towards said stationaryshelf, means for moving said vertically movable shelf between upper andlower positions in which therplane of its top is disposed respectivelyabove and below the plane of the top of the stationary shelf, means fordelivering stock from the run-out table to the top of the verticallymovable shelf when the latter shelf is in its lower position, wherebythe stock gravitates down the top of said vertically movable shelf andby contact with the straight side of the stationary shelf isstraightened, said vertically' movable shelf operating when raised toits upper position to elevate the stock and to deliver the same to thetop of the stationary table, and a plurality of shelf sections connectedwith said vertically movable shelf for movement therewith between upperand lower positions, said shelf sections being disposed between therollers of the hot-bed and being inclined downwardly away from thestationary table and having abutments at their sides remote from thestationary table, said shelf sections when in their upper positionsbeing disposed to receive stock gravitating down said stationary shelf,and to support the stock above the rollers of the hot-bed and when intheir lower positions being disposed below the plane of the top of therollers, whereby the stock is deposited on the rollers during downwardmovement of the shelf sections.

run-out table is straight and constitutes an abutmerit against whichstock gravitating down the last mentioned stationary shelf contacts whenthe vertically movable shelf is in its upper position.

KARL FELLER.

